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A review by holtfan
Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber
5.0
I love [b:Surprised by Oxford|9923943|Surprised by Oxford|Carolyn Weber|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388184922s/9923943.jpg|14816776] for so many reasons.
I love this book because of Oxford. On more than one occasion, I shouted to whomever happened to be closest, "St. Ebbes! That's my church!" or "New College! That my college!" Yet on an even deeper level than passing references to places I know, Caro's experience as a abroad student resounded with me. I understand getting lost, being confused by the strange pronunciations of names, even the wonder of the tutorial system. I understood Oxford and her love for it resonated for me.
I love this book because of Wordsworth, Lewis and the many other writers she quotes. Caro is friends with them all. Her love of learning and thinking is so evident. I ate it up and realized I was starving for more. She provides quotes at the beginning of chapters, references throughout her conversations, sometimes poems within the prose. Although I am not an English major, I readily understood her love for her subject because it reminded me of the giddy, reckless joy I felt when I was at Oxford studying political philosophy. This book reflects not only a scholar's heart, but a lover of learning's heart for academia.
Most of all I love this book for Caro's conversion experience. Although so different from my own, her journey to faith filled me with joy and understanding. I like that it followed through from her first blissful moments after surrendering to the often frustrating reality of the Christian life afterwards. It isn't easy. Caro is honest, vulnerable, and unafraid to express her love for God and because of that, this book breathes. It questions and answers and leaves unanswered, leaving many ideas for the reader to wrestle with in its wake. In some ways, it feels like a literary mentor because so much of what it deals with are things everyone wonders and needs to be reminded of...or at least I do.
[b:Surprised by Oxford|9923943|Surprised by Oxford|Carolyn Weber|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388184922s/9923943.jpg|14816776] is thick, 400 odd pages, but worth every moment. It is worth re-reading. Highlighting. Enjoying. Perhaps for some this is a sit-down-and-read-in-a-day sort of book but for me it took three separate occasions, separated by months, to finish. I needed to digest it to move on and yet I suspect I barely skimmed the surface of what I will get out of it in the future. There is so much!
I love this book because it reawakens my love of learning. It fills me with hope. I suspect I have found a life-long friend.
PS I STRONGLY recommend Kris's review of this book! Check it out!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/780686119?book_show_action=false&page=1
I love this book because of Oxford. On more than one occasion, I shouted to whomever happened to be closest, "St. Ebbes! That's my church!" or "New College! That my college!" Yet on an even deeper level than passing references to places I know, Caro's experience as a abroad student resounded with me. I understand getting lost, being confused by the strange pronunciations of names, even the wonder of the tutorial system. I understood Oxford and her love for it resonated for me.
I love this book because of Wordsworth, Lewis and the many other writers she quotes. Caro is friends with them all. Her love of learning and thinking is so evident. I ate it up and realized I was starving for more. She provides quotes at the beginning of chapters, references throughout her conversations, sometimes poems within the prose. Although I am not an English major, I readily understood her love for her subject because it reminded me of the giddy, reckless joy I felt when I was at Oxford studying political philosophy. This book reflects not only a scholar's heart, but a lover of learning's heart for academia.
Most of all I love this book for Caro's conversion experience. Although so different from my own, her journey to faith filled me with joy and understanding. I like that it followed through from her first blissful moments after surrendering to the often frustrating reality of the Christian life afterwards. It isn't easy. Caro is honest, vulnerable, and unafraid to express her love for God and because of that, this book breathes. It questions and answers and leaves unanswered, leaving many ideas for the reader to wrestle with in its wake. In some ways, it feels like a literary mentor because so much of what it deals with are things everyone wonders and needs to be reminded of...or at least I do.
[b:Surprised by Oxford|9923943|Surprised by Oxford|Carolyn Weber|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388184922s/9923943.jpg|14816776] is thick, 400 odd pages, but worth every moment. It is worth re-reading. Highlighting. Enjoying. Perhaps for some this is a sit-down-and-read-in-a-day sort of book but for me it took three separate occasions, separated by months, to finish. I needed to digest it to move on and yet I suspect I barely skimmed the surface of what I will get out of it in the future. There is so much!
I love this book because it reawakens my love of learning. It fills me with hope. I suspect I have found a life-long friend.
PS I STRONGLY recommend Kris's review of this book! Check it out!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/780686119?book_show_action=false&page=1